Never Summer Proto Type Two 2018 - 2016
Review by The Good Ride

The Never Summer Proto Type Two is the continuation of the Proto with more camber and an Asymmetrical side cut. So with the current line, the Proto Type II is a step up in flex to the Funslinger for those that want a more mountain friendly asym twin. My first thought after a day of riding is I have to remove the Favorite label from the Proto and move it to the Proto Type II as the extra camber and asymmetry really rounds out the overall ride. Nothing has really changed from the 2016-2018 season.

2018 On the Table Review coming but this is very similar. Also a somewhat updated review even though the board didn’t really change.

On Snow Feel: There is a definite bump in terms of stability compared to the Proto and it’s much closer to most hybrid camber boards when one footing or flat basing. It can still be a little loose in harder snow like we encountered getting off the chair but it’s much better with the Ripsaw Camber Profile. It’s the kind of board that wants you to treat the whole mountain like a park and ride switch a lot. Also being an Asymmetrical board it prefers riders with a centered duck stance so don’t get it if you like to set it back and ride 18 front 0 back. It really likes stance symmetry for the asymmetry to work.

Flex: Great flex that doesn’t bend in the middle like the Funslinger does but also butters easier and has a more playful feel than the Ripsaw. The extra camber in the tip and tail snap out of a butter or press really well too.

Turn Initiation: Really quick and borderline snappy edge to edge and it’s a board that’s fun to make quick turns with. It’s still fun making slower and wider turns.

Skidded Turns: Even with the extra camber the Type Two can still easily skid a turn and it’s not in any way unforgiving.

Carving: What an improvement. Soo much more fun to carve than the proto and you can really feel the Never Summer Type Two hold and power out of the turn way better than the Old Proto. If you like to carve switch and regular then this is a great choice.

Powder: Not ideal for directional powder riding and not really a board you can set back much or at all. Also because of the Asymmetrical side cuts it’s best to keep it centered and duck at all times in order for it to turn better. I’d much rather be on the West for setting it back and getting more directional float. It’s a better board for that. This is the biggest differentiation between the West and the Proto Type II. So if you are going to set your stance back in powder the West is definitely the call. If you ride switch a lot in powder and don’t set your board back then you will enjoy the Proto Type II as it floats pretty well when the stance is centered.

Speed: Same dampness as the Proto but with more stability so it works really well riding the mountain. It’s a nice in between board from the Funslinger and the Ripsaw for speed and it’s much better on the mountain than the Funslinger.

Uneven Terrain: Never Summers boards handle uneven terrain just right. They really know how to make a board work well in bumpy crappy all day resort riding snow.

Edge Hold: Same great grip as the old Proto did that can handle all the conditions you want to ride in. It’s not great in ice but who wants to ride in ice anyways.

Switch: Going to an Asymmetrical Twin means it’s actually more symmetrical for how you ride the board so it’s even better riding switch than the Proto.

Jibbing: Not a strong jibber but very doable. I’d rather be on the Funslinger and love how the middle bends around the feature. The Proto Type II wasn’t perfect but it’s ok if you aren’t getting too technical there.

Pipe: I would love to lap the pipe with this board and that extra camber and more stability will make it a little better than the Proto going from wall to wall. After a few runs I knew I was at home in the 16-18 foot pipe just like I was with the Old Proto only that extra camber helps it drive better from wall to wall. The only thing I could ask for is a little extra grip for that mid winter solid ice pipe but other than that it’s practically perfect for riders of all levels.

Jumps: Nice pop and love the extra camber. Never summer boards can feel rubbery damp and like they won’t pop until you actually Ollie. Then you realize it’s got lot’s of pop. It’s the kind of board that can handle most kickers the average jump enthusiast will hit from small to pretty big.

All in all the Ripsaw Camber profile and the Asymmetrical side cut make for a much better all around ride than the Proto. I’m glad the Never Summer Type Two came out this year because this would of been the last year that the Proto would of been a favorite.

This board has the strongest and fastest base that I have seen, it's dampening is unmatched, and the topsheet is very tough and good looking. Most importantly, it's edge hold on Northeast ice is in a league of it's own. I can't stress that enough. It just digs in, and I've ridden plenty of boards on ice.

The board feels a bit stiff at first, but after 10 days it's definitely buttering and ollieing easier, and I'm pretty weak in that department. My feet are rated a little big for a non-wide board, but that's BS, I never drag and regular width boards are more responsive from edge to edge with a little extra toe overhang.

I've been bombing a lot on the very hard conditions this year and had this board over 50 mph. It's stiff enough to handle that, but not too stiff to be a little playful. Small rocks that scratch up my buddy's board don't leave marks in this one. When my buddy is slipping out on skied out conditions with his Burton Process, I'm barely slipping, and it's not about having sharp edges. It can carve impressively too. Keep in mind that the blunted nose and tail makes the length meaningless, it's all about effective edge, so this rides larger. I've compared rough and chundery conditions with other boards, and their CRC profile works like shock absorbers under your feet. Noticeably smoother ride.

I do feel the asym sidecut and it takes a few days to lighten up on your heel carves coming from a standard board. I'm not sure it really matters, but it's hardly noticeable at first and unnoticeable after a few days.

If I could tweak this board, I would probably ditch the asym sidecut, and increase the sidecut radius a bit. The faster you go, the bigger your carves, and this is a little tight, but most are. I also would have preferred the regular base graphic as this one is so 80's.

Ok so this is my first real review so be kind. lol Got my 154cm Type2 out today. This will be the point of view of somebody who has been riding RCR boards for the last 70 days I've ridden. Last 30 have been on a 2016 YES Greats.

Day 1

Conditions

-10C/15km/hr winds. No new snow today, but the last two days had LOTS of snow. So everything was groomed but VERY soft still. Perfect day for digging trenches.

Rider ability

2.5 seasons riding. 60+ times per season. Strong intermediate. I like going fast, riding switch, small 180's and 360's off natural features, always searching for powder, and zero park.

Initial impression

This board gets on edge FAST and stays on edge. Granted it was very soft groomers, I was digging 2-3" trenches at low speed. Even coming off a chair I pressured the toe edge slightly and almost felt over because it dug in the snow way more than I expected. I did find some wind scoured patches and the edge held very good on that too. I feel like I could feel the 0 degree base bevel compared to the 1 degree yes and burton bevels that I'm used to. Very stable at slow and fast speeds which I'll touch on later.

Flat basing

If you search my post history you'll find that this is an area that I was always concerned about with rocker boards. 2 seasons ago I rode Libtec CRC's and always felt uneasy on harder surfaces and cat tracks while flat basing. Even one day this year I tried out a TRS and felt the same way after being accustomed to RCR boards. This was NOT the case with the NS Type 2. I could flat base everything. slow cat tracks, hard pack, steeper blue runs going 45mph. I watched a "boardinsiders" youtube review on the Funslinger where the reviewer couldn't believe how will that board flat based. I felt the same about the Type 2. I was Shocked! Again I feel like the board rode a bit wider and more planted because of the 0 degree base bevel.

Edges

I felt that these edges held on anything. Very impressed. Might be the 0 degree base bevel.

Jumps.

Usually on my RCR boards, I always make sure I'm landing straight with my board pointing in the dirrection I'm going. To avoid catching an edge if I'm off a bit. The few jumps I took this morning, I felt like I could just take a jump and it didn't matter if I'm not perfectly straight on the landing. Spins were very easy too, and just stop my rotation I just needed to dig an edge in very slightly and I'm good.

Powder

No real powder today but everybody else that has ridden this board says it floats great for a Twin.

Moguls.

Outstanding. This board is like a surgeons scalpel on this stuff.

Speed.

Factory wax didn't impress me. But factory wax never does. I felt very confident and found that heel edge chatter was completely gone compared to my YES greats where it came up sometimes. This must be due to the contact points being further out. I liked this a lot. This made is feel more stable than any RCR board i've been on. Again I was shocked here. I wasn't trying to hit a top speed today. But I did take a quick part of a run and hit 46mph and it was easier. I tried to take it to a spot where I hit 54mph on my greats before but the chair line was too long and I was late getting to work.

Final thoughts.

I'll give it a few more days to really get to the know board. But after a half day that I got on it today. I'm sold. Like Matty B said about his Funslinger. I felt like this board could do everything that my greats could but better. The greats was my favorite board of the 15 or so boards I've owned in 2.5 seasons. But I think this one may beat it out.

I want to ride it in really hard conditions to see if it brings out the squirrelly CRC. But even today on some really hard stuff it didn't' feel any worse than my greats on hard pack.

BADASS board. Best first day on a new board that I've ever had. By a mile. Buy this board.

Day 2.

Got it out again today. Got a really full day in and conditions were great.

Everything stands in my previous review but I will add that it floats Really well and felt great on REALLY icy/bumpy terain.

Also got to get some butters in and it felt great there too!

And it busts through end of day resort bumps better than the greats too

My greats is now for sale.

Day 3

3rd day on the board. Condition were HARD. No new snow in days and it's been warm so the hill went through some freeze/thaw.

I have never felt so comfortable on a board in these conditions. I usually just goof around on these days, but on this board I felt that I could bomb the hill and not worry about anything.

And Flat basing on this board in super hard conditions was amazing aswell.

Took this board along with my lib tech travis rice HP 161 to compare for a week in Couchevel France. Spent first day on Lib, then next day on NS then back on Lib. After doing comparison, spent rest of week on the NS type two. What a board I loved it. Bear in mind the Type Two is a 157, and the lib is 161, so this will account for some of the differences I felt. However this board just turns on a dime, fast edge to edge, was playful and floaty in the powder. But most of all it made me more confident at speed as I knew I could turn and control the board without it washing out. Actually it is much more grippy and better at carving than my Lib. The Lib felt like a cadalac while this was more like a sports car, but this may be partly down to the size difference. Unlike my lib it was nimble through trees. This board definitely improved my riding, very confidence inspiring. I have also been trying to improve my switch and compared to the Lib it was definitely much easier control. I love this board?

product0.3

5.05.044This board has the strongest and fastest base that I have seen, it's dampening is unmatched, and the topsheet is very tough and good looking. Most importantly, it's edge hold on NNever Summer Proto Type Two 2016-2018 Snowboard Review